The Bau-Pionier Bataillon 414 in Russia 1942. Based on the diary of Hauptmann Erich Landzettel.

August 08, 1942.

At 18:00 came Hauptmann Hasselkus. The Company formed in open space. The commander gave a speech and handed me a package with the "Eastern Front Medals" and pinned the ribbon over my own chest.

At noon I met a Russian civilian at workplace and asked for his roles. The Russian had a pass. He was a captain in the Russian navy who provided services for the Wehrmacht, He even could carry a gun. What was all this? .....

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The Aufklärungs-Abteilung 29 in Operation Barbarossa. First actions - June 1941.

In the night from 22 to 23 June 1941 the 29th ID (mot) marched from Sieldce and on June 23, 1941 still rested west of the Bug River. On June 24, 1941 at noon it crossed the Bug over the war bridge built northwest of Brest-Litovsk with the task of reaching the line Lyskow - Nowy Dwor - Pruzana and prevent the enemy's withdrawal eastward from the forests of Bialowieza. The AA 29 was moving forwards forming up the Group of March I, together with the Kradsch. Btl 29.

In the night from 24 to 25 June 1941, strong enemy contingents reinforced by tanks, headed by Wolkowysk toward Slonim, thus creating a difficult situation. Therefore the 29 ID (Mot) was ordered to push on the road Slonim - Zelwa and secure to the north and west and block the bridge on Zelwa and the course of the Zelwianka located far to the south. Following this order the AA 29 and the Kradsch. Btl 29 should proceed from Rozana towards Jeziornica.

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The Aufklärungs-Abteilung 29 in Operation Barbarossa. First actions - June 1941.

The reconnaissance of the AA 29 towards the Niemen as told by Hauptmann Schulze-Ingenohl, who replaced the wounded Commander, Maj. v. Blomberg:

A patrol consisting of three armored vehicles was detached from Jeziornica having as its task to reconnoiter towards the Niemen and to establish liaison with Army Group North. The last message received reported that the patrol had been engaged in combat with a Russian tank. Oberleutnant Ade, with a mixed scouting patrol, went in search of the missing comrades and additionally was to link with Army Group North. Ade found the burned remnants of the three lost vehicles but no trace of their crews. He proceeded the march towards the Niemen but without meeting any German soldier on the north bank. After waiting some time, the Oberleutnant gave the order to return, but at that time the patrol was attacked by Russian tanks, and the Officer was shot in the head. His men fought desperately, and were able to report about the situation by radio. In this unequal struggle only survived two motorcyclists who took refuge in the forests.

The Aufklärungs-Abteilung 29 in Operation Barbarossa. First actions - June 1941.

Upon hearing the latest news the Abteilung's Commander, Maj. v. Blomberg, gathered all the detachment and came to the aid of those comrades in distress. On the way they met with the members of the first patrol who were wounded but had no fatal casualties. Shortly after the AA 29 clashed with superior infantry forces which had the support of tanks, so the German had to fall back while fighting and suffering heavy losses in men and material. The next day the rest of the detachment, commanded by Oberleutnant Storl, took a bloody revenge against the Russian tanks, loosing a light armoured scout vehicle in turn. In a secondary route that led to Slonim, the detachment had established a blocking position and engaged in combat with Russian tanks, which together with infantry elements, sought to break there. As the guns of 50 mm had no effect against the powerful armored, the sappers crawled through ditches and threw mines beneath them, hence after being immobilized the tanks were destroyed by anti-tank fire; the infantry was wiped out with machine gun fire.

The Aufklärungs-Abteilung 29 in Operation Barbarossa. First actions - June 1941.

On June 27, 1941 in the morning, the Division was deployed on a security mission along a front of 60-70 kms from Slonim up to Zelwianka. Right, on Slonim was the IR 71, westbound between the Holynka and Dereczyn was the AA 29 with the Kradsch. Btl 29 and astride the Zelwa and further south was the IR 15, facing northwest and west. Southwest of Jeziornica and along the Zelwianka, facing west towards Rozana, assured the MG Btl 5 which had been attached to the 29. ID (Mot).

In the course of those days were rejected several strong attempts of the enemy in order to break through the advanced positions of the AA 29 and the Kradsch. Btl 29, the situation improved when the front was reinforced with the II. / IR 71 in the Holynka sector.

A doctor of the AA 29 amputated the forearm of a Russian prisoner who has been wounded...........

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Fighting in Kozin - July 1941.

On July 4, 1941 at 0620 hours the Ia (Ops Offr) of the 168. ID explained the situation to IR 429 and issued the following warning order:

Warning at once, providing security due north with all elements.
The II. / IR 429 should move toward Kozin immediately.

At 09:30 hours the IR 429 Commander stated:

The II. / IR 429 (reinforced) should block the road Kozin-Werba.

At 10:45 hours, fulfilling orders, the II. / IR 429 marched from Kozin heading towards Werba. While on the move to Werba, in consideration of the incoming reports about the presence of strong enemy still west of the extensive wooded area, the battalion was stopped and then committed north of Kozin in support of the I. / IR 429.

July 04, 1941. For three days we combed the forest between Werba and Dubno, without supplies and left to ourselves. In one of the woods we stumbled upon a large number of Russian tanks and trucks. Three days watching the booty, which included maps with the deployment of the Soviet tank divisions mobilized against Germany and Romania. The Russians deployed in front of us by Werba were heavily punished and fled into the woods.

On July 05, 1941 they were completely destroyed at Kozin by the I. Battalion (IR 429), artillery and Flak. Our infantry was marching far behind yet. The Division Commander (168 ID), GM / GL Dr. Hans Mundt, and the Commander of the Regiment (IR 429), O (SS-OFhr) Arnold Altvater-Mackensen, were removed from their assignments.

A vanguard detachment (Vorausabteilung) broke into a town; Suddenly, Soviet soldiers open fire from their hiding places. The chief of the German detachment is wounded ... Quickly everyone jumps into cover. The enemy seems to take position mainly in and between the trees to the right of the street ...... There is already a German mortar group which takes position ... and opens fire on the edge of the forest ...........

From the exit of the town, a hostile armored vehicle emerges ... the decision is fast and the order arrives: antitank to the front (Pak nach vor) .......... two minutes later the first projectile left the barrel........ The first shot was impact, quickly followed by two more shots. Hurray the tank burns........

Even as the anti-tank gun continues firing, the motorcyclists (kradschützen) go on to the assault of the place..................................

The commanding officer is wounded..................................................

Quickly a mortar group takes position there........................................